Closure plug for a tubular casing



FICLL. FIG.2. 9 6| l Dec. 1,. 1953 J. F. G. MILLER 2,661,120

CLOSURE PLUG FOR A TUBULAR CASING Filed May 25, 1950 JOSEPH F. G. MILLER Patented Dec. 1, 31953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

see. 266) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to housings for enclosing and hermetically sealing certain ordnance devices therein and more particularly to new and improved plugs for closing and sealing the ends of a tubular casing without having a flange or other extension projecting radially beyond the outer side of the tube.

In the development of ordnance devices such, for example, as gradiometer coils and like devices, it has been found essential in obtaining successful operation of such devices to provide a tubular casing in which the device may be sealed to exclude moisture or other foreign matter. It is also essential that a closure plug be provided for sealing the ends of the tube which may be easily assembled upon or removed from the tube without the use of special tools or equipment and that no projection extends beyond the side of the tube when the plug is mounted thereon.

While closure plugs for tubes heretofore devised have been generally satisfactory for certain purposes, the prior art plugs have not been entirely satisfactory from the standpoint of waterand gas-tight integrity, ease of assembly and disassembly, or due to the fact that a flange or tion resides in the provision of a new and ime proved tube plug which may be easily applied or removed from a tube, and when applied, does not extend beyond the exterior diameter of the tube.

An additional feature and object of the invention resides in the provision of a new and improved closure plug for a tube which seals electrical or other devices therein and having in addition thereto all the desired qualities and characteristics of minimum bulk, resistance to leakage when subjected to extremely high fluid pressure, and wide diversity of usefulness.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a length of tubular casing, only the ends of the ure plugs applied thereto showing the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1 as viewed from the right;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a length of tube casing having a modified form of a closure plug applied thereto;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a length of a tubular casing having another modified form of a closure plug for sealing the end of the casing and in addition passing a multiple conductor cable through the plug; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a length of tubular casing having still another modified form of a closure plug for sealing the end of the tube.

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown thereon a length of tubular metallic casing ID, in which one or more magnetometer or gradiometer coils, or like device (not shown), are to be encased in such a manner that moisture or other foreign matter will be excluded from the casing. For details as to the construction and arrangement within the tubular casing of magnetometergradiometer apparatus of this character, reference may be had to the copending application of Fred M. Mayes et al., Serial No. 750,865, filed May 27, 1947 for Magnetometer Gradiometer Apparatus and Method, now Patent No. 2,620,381.

Each end of the casing in is engaged by a cap 9 having a cylindrical body portion ll of substantial thickness arranged to telescopingly engage the inner wall of the casing l0. Wall portion H is provided with a radial flange l2 which engages the end face of casing 10 with the peripheral edge of the flange arranged in alignment with the outer surface of the casing when the cap 9 is assembled on the casing.

Body portion I l is provided with a peripheral recess l 3 which is telescopingly engaged by longitudinal flange portion [4 of disk l5 which is slideably arranged within the tube [0.

In order to form a high pressure fluid-tight seal and means for gripping the cap 9 to the tube or casing l0, an annular ring or gasket l1, preferably formed of rubber or similar resilient material, is pressed on portion H within the peripheral recess I3 therein and forced into the tube In into abutting engagement with the flange M. The disk I 5 is provided with a plurality of threaded recesses I 8 engaged by studs [9 which extend through suitable openings provided therefor in cap 9. Ring I! is forced radially into fluidtight gripping engagement with the cap 9 and the inner surface of the casing 10 as disk is forced toward the cap as nuts are tightened on studs l9. Cap 9 is also provided with recesses 3| which are threaded for receiving jack screws (not shown) therein for removing the assembled plug from casing I0 after nuts 20 are loosened on the studs IS.

The left hand plug, as viewed in Fig. 1, comprises an arrangement for bringing conductor cables into the casing ID in such a manner as to exclude moisture or other foreign material from the casing. Disk 6|, which is generally similar to disk I5, is provided with bores 4| therethrough into which are welded in fluid-tight relation sleeves 42 having a threaded portion 43 at the outer end of the sleeve and having an inwardly extending flange 44 at the inner end of the sleeve forming a circular opening 45. The conductor cables (not shown) are threaded through openings 45 with gaskets 46, formed of rubber or similar resilient material, sleeved about the cables and arranged to abut the flange 44. A

gripping relation. The casing I0 is provided with a plurality of set screws 22 countersunk within the casing which engage the peripheral face of metallic cap 23 to prevent axial movement thereof within the casing, thereby to facilitate positioning of the plug within the casing and holding of the plug while the gripping engagement is developed. Cap 23 is provided with a longitudinal flange 24 slideably arranged within the casing l6 and an inwardly extending flange 25 having a plurality of openings therethrough for receiving studs 26. Flange 24 is arranged for telescoping engagement with peripheral recess 21 formed in the face of disk 28 which is slideably arranged within the casing 16.

Recess 27 is provided with a ring gasket 32 preferably formed of rubber or similar resilient material and arranged to abut flange 24 as the disk 25 is drawn toward cap 23 upon tightening of nuts 2:. on studs 26. This forces the gasket 32 radially into fluid-tight gripping engagement with the inner wall of the casing in and the plug 28.

. Referring now to Fig. 4 there is shown thereon a disk 32 slideably arranged within casing l6 and having an opening 63 therethrough for passing an insulated conductor cable 33 through the opening. Disk '62 is provided with a plurality of threaded openings 34 (two being shown) for receiving the ends of studs 35 therein. A pair of gaskets 36, formed of rubber or similar resilient material, are slideably arranged within the casing 56 with a spacer member 3'! slideably arranged within the casing and in abutting relation between the gaskets, the left gasket as viewed in Fig. 4 being arranged to abut the face of disk 62. A cap 33 is slideably arranged within the casing l0 and in abutting engagement with the outer gasket 36. Suitable openings are provided through gaskets 3S, spacer 3? and cap 38 for passing studs 35 and cable 33 therethrough. Gaskets 36 are forced 4 radially into fluid-tight gripping engagement with the casing l6 and cable 33 as the disk 62 and the cap 38 are drawn together as nuts 33 are tightened on the studs 35.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5 there is shown thereon a tubular casing ID with a threaded end portion 5! engaging a cap 52 having an outface of the casing. A cylindrical disk 51 is slideably arranged within the casing I 0 to abut a rigid spacer tube 59 also disposed within the casing.

The disk 5"" is provided with a longitudinal flange =58 arranged to telescopically engage the groove 55 ;-thereby to compress the gasket 56 radially into fluid-tight engagement with the cap 52 and inner surface of the casing ID as the cap is tightened on the casing.

In each of the aforedescribed plug modifications, a ring gasket, or each of several gaskets, as the case may be, are enclosed by coactingcap and disk members in cooperation with the part, or parts, to be sealed, usually the casing I0 but also the cable 33 as in Fig. 4 whereby the ring gasket is forced radially of the easing into sealing engagement therewith, and also with the cable 33, as the cap and disk are drawn together axially or longitudinally of the casing. With the exception of one plug arrangement of Fig. 4, the cap and disk mutually engage telescopically to enclose and compress the ring gasket therebetween in cooperation-with the inner wall of casing [0.

Obviously many modifications and variations 0f the present invention are possiblein the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for sealing the ends of a tubular casing against the ingress of foreign material comprising, in combination, a pair of mutually spaced disk members mounted within said casing and spaced from the ends thereof, a tubular spacer mounted within the casing and between said disk members for maintaining the mutual spacing of said disks, said disks having outwardly directed longitudinally extending circumferential flanges adjacent the periphery thereof, a pair of cap members threadedly engaging the inner surface of said casing and having radial lips respectively engaging the ends of said casing, the circumferential edge of each of said lips being flush with the outer surface of said casing, said cap members each having an annular recess forming a shoulder and an annular surface at the inner end thereof, portions of said cap members extending into overlapping relation with the longitudinal flanges of said disks, and compressible gaskets respectively mounted in the recesses of said caps and compressed between said shoulders and said longitudinal flanges and between the annular surfaces of the cap members and the inner wall of the casing when said lips engage the ends thereof.

2. Apparatus for sealing the ends of a tubular member comprising, a pair of flanged caps individual to and threadedly engaging the inner surfaces of the ends of said member, a pair of compressible gaskets, said caps having the inner surfaces thereof step out to receive said compressible gaskets respectively, a pair of disks mounted within said tubular member adjacent the ends thereof respectively and having flanges in engagement with said gaskets respectively, and a tubular resilient spacer mounted within said tubular member and having the opposed ends thereof respectively in engagement with said disks, said gaskets and said spacer being compressed between said caps and said disks as the caps are screwed into the ends of said tubular member to bring said cap flanges into abutment with the ends of the member. I}

3. Apparatus for sealing the ends of a tubular casing against the ingress of moisture comprising the combination of an elongated tubular resilient spacer mounted within said casing and having a length shorter than the casing, a pair of disks individual to and engaging the ends of said spacer respectively, said disks having outwardly directed longitudinally extending circumferential flanges, a pair of compressible gaskets individual to and engaging each of said flanges, and a pair of cap members threadedly engaging the inner surface of said casing and having the inner surfaces thereof recessed annularly to receive said gaskets respectively, said caps having radial flanges individual thereto and abutting the ends of said casing, said cap flanges being flush with the outer circumferential surface of the casing, said gaskets being compressed between said caps and said disk flanges and said spacer being compressed between said disks as the caps are screwed into the casing.

JOSEPH F. G. MILLER.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 172,528 Walker Jan. 18, 1876 530,840 Harrison Dec. 11, 1894 848,493 Redenbaugh Mar. 26, 1907 872,024 Smith Nov. 26, 1907 1,389,542 Wereley Aug. 30, 1921 1,732,235 Joyce Oct. 22, 1929 1,851,939 Williams (A) Mar. 29, 1932 1,851,940 Williams (B) Mar. 29, 1932 2,121,511 Schlesinger June 21, 1938 2,461,989 LeRoy Feb. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 386,565 Great Britain Jan. '19, 1933 782,166 France Mar. 11, 1935 587,289 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1947 

